PAY DAY EVERY MONTH.
Mr. Antrim's bill [H. R. 14] to require all companies and corporations to make settlement and payment to their employes at least once every thirty days, being read the third time.
Mr. ANTRIM stated that the bill was not introduced through any animosity to the companies or corporations, but it subject is simply to compel such companies and associations to settle with their employes at least once every thirty days. The employes in this part of the State had suffered great injustice by the companies, getting behind with said employes, and when they received their money not getting but a small per cent. of the amount actually due them for their labor. If this bill works any hardships it is simply a question of whether the Company is to sustain that hardship or whether it will continue to be imposed upon the laboring men, who are the least able to sustain it, and who can not command credit. The penalty is not to crush the Company, but simply to compel them to pay every honest debt to its employes. He knew men in his own County last winter to whom a certain company were owing $200 and yet that man did not have enough money to buy his family a turkey dinner on Christmas Day. He desired to ask if this is right? The bill is in the interest of a class of men who are not filling the lobbies and working in the interest of this measure, but they are our constituents, and we are here to work for them just as much as for the interests of the wealth of our State, and they deserve just as much at our hands.
Mr. WILSON, of Marion, was a sympathetic man page: 241[View Page 241] with the working class. This bill provides that companies or corporations must pay every thirty days, anyhow. It provides for no contingencies, and in case such a contingency should arise, the Company would be compelled to pay this penalty, not to the employe but to the State Treasury, and if a receiver is appointed the result would be the same. He thought it would be wrong for the bill in its present shape to become a law.
Mr. WILLIAMS, of Knox, thought this unwise legislation. It smacks too much of that old English law of imprisonment for debt. He did not think the author intended any unwise or unjust legislation, but he was satisfied that the bill would work unjustly against the companies and corporations. A Railroad Company might have trouble in negotiating a loan or the pay can be unavoidably delayed, or the Company suffer temporary embarrassment, and in such cases the money that otherwise would go to the employes would go into the State Treasury or to pay an attorney fee.
Mr. MOODY could not see where the bill would work a hardship. It simply provides that these companies, corporations or associations should pay their employes once every thirty days. And why not, when the law presents a penalty for a man not paying his note when it is due? There is nothing wrong about this bill, and it should pass.
Mr. MONTGOMERY was one of the Committee that made a unanimous report in favor of the passage of this bill. He thought it should become a law. He thought it was in the interest of the laboring constituents of every member of the House, and he did not think it would be a hardship for the companies to pay once every thirty days.
Mr. PATTEN could not see anything very wrong in compelling companies and corporations to pay their debts once every thirty days- to pay for the labor that created their capital. He thought that the principle of this legislation is right. These employes furnished the muscle, the skill and the labor to create this capital, and they should have the first earnings.
Mr. JEWETT favored the principles embodied in this bill, and would very much like to see corporations and companies compelled to bay their debts in a reasonable time, but it appeared to him that this bill was not sufficiently guarded, and that the corporations, under the provisions of this bill, may be made liable for their own misfortunes.
With the consent of the House Mr. JEWETT offered the following amendment, by adding to the last section a proviso: "That any corporation, association or joint-stock company may be exempted from the penalties of the act upon application showing good cause by order of the Judge of the Circuit Court of any County in which said corporation, association or company may at the time be engaged in business." He was willing to take the statement of the gentleman from Miami [Mr. Antrim] who has by his course on this floor shown himself to be a good lawyer, that this is a good bill. This bill is just to the workingmen, and Heaven knows there is little enough legislation for these men.
Mr. MELLETT favored the passage of the bill with the amendment. He thought that some legislation on this subject was necessary. He believed that the sentiment of the House was in favor of the passage of the bill, and he hoped no copious objection would be made to any amendment that might be made.
Mr. Jewett's amendment was adopted, and on his motion the amendment was considered engrossed and the bill passed the House by yeas, 84; nays, 7.
Mr. McMULLEN moved to take up the bill [H. R. 91] concerning the relocation of County seats-Jennings County Court House bill-and which bill failed to pass on February 6 for want of a Constitutional majority.
The motion was agreed to and the bill passed the House by yeas, 54; nays, 35.
